Bioactive Compounds in Fermented Foods and Management of Depression and Anxiety.

Fermented foods are considered functional foods because they may contribute additional health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Fermented functional foods act biologically in the gastrointestinal tract and can help replenish the gut microbiome, reducing intestinal permeability, which can support the restoration of normal mental health in disordered individuals. Fermentation is a biochemical process in which microorganisms are intentionally added to foods or naturally occur in foods. Due to the fermentation process, fermented foods contain three main functional components that may be present in varying amounts: functional microorganisms (probiotics), prebiotics, and biogenics (bioactive components). In particular, fermented foods may exert beneficial health effects through bioactive compounds, which are small molecules that result from chemical changes during the fermentation process. Accordingly, bioactive compounds in fermented foods may have the potential to manage depression and anxiety by altering the underlying pathways involved in the causes of these disorders.